Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a form of counseling intervention that draws on various theories of alternative medicine including acupuncture, neuro-linguistic programming, energy medicine, and Thought Field Therapy. It is best known through Gary Craig’s EFT Handbook, published in the late 1990s, and related books and workshops by a variety of teachers. During a typical EFT session, the person will focus on a specific issue while tapping on “end points of the body’s energy meridians”. This technique may be used to treat a wide variety of physical and psychological disorders, and as a simple form of self-administered therapy.
EFT works on just about everything, including:
- Allergies (food, environmental, even unknown)
- Anger
- Anxiety, panic attacks
- Fears, phobias
- Guilt
- Insomnia
- Negative thoughts or memories
- Pain (fibromyalgia, arthritis, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome)
- Post traumatic stress disorder
- Weight loss
- Addictive cravings (food, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs)
- Stress
According to the EFT manual, the procedure consists of the participant rating the emotional intensity of their reaction on a Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) (a Likert scale for subjective measures of distress, calibrated 0-10) then repeating an orienting affirmation while rubbing or tapping specific points on the body. Some practitioners incorporate eye movements or other tasks. The emotional intensity is then rescored and repeated until no changes are noted in the emotional intensity.
